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Overview

Mend: A Story of Divorce is the first in a series of graphic novels written by young adults for their peers.

Sophia, the fourteen-year-old author and protagonist, tells the heart-wrenching story of her parents’ divorce. She was just eleven years old, happy and enjoying life with her mom, dad, and little brother in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unexpectedly, one night, a violent argument disrupted her sleep and shattered her life. The next morning, her parents told her the dreaded news—they were getting divorced. Her dad was moving to California, while Sophia and her brother would stay with their mom.

Any child who has experienced the trauma of divorce will understand Sophia’s reactions: First, she blamed herself. But then, she remembered a note a teacher once wrote on her report card, and was inspired to focus on bringing both parents back into her life. Even if they could not be under the same roof, she thought, they could still share in caring for her and her brother.

Sophia’s story will resonate with children (and adults) who have faced a split in their family, or who have friends dealing with divorce. The book includes helpful advice for parents, as well as a special Teacher’s Corner page.

Zuiker Press is proud to publish stories about important current topics for kids and adolescents, written by their peers, that will help them cope with the challenges they face in today’s troubled world.

Product Details

About the Author

Michelle and Anthony E. Zuiker are the Founders of Zuiker Press. The husband and wife couple develop and publish "real" stories of young people suffering from issues that affect children every day. Mrs. Zuiker is an 18-year educator from Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Zuiker is well known as the Creator/Executive of the “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” franchise on CBS – the most successful TV show in global history.

Sophia Recca is a 14-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada. She attends private school, where she is a “straight A” student. Sophia likes arts and crafts, watching TV with her father, and spending fun weekends with her mother.

Illustrator Garry Leach is a British artist best known for his work co-creating the new MARVELMAN with writer Alan Moore. As an artist Garry was a frequent contributor to 2000 AD, working on DAN DARE, JUDGE DREDD, THE V.C.s, and FUTURE SHOCKS. At DC Comics, Garry worked on the LEGION of SUPERHEROES, HIT MAN, MONARCHY, and the GLOBAL FREQUENCY. Garry has been a cover artist for DC Comics, 2000AD, Virgin Comics and Dynamic Forces, and he inked Chris Weston on THE TWELVE for Marvel Comics.

Editorial Reviews

2018-10-23

Fourteen-year-old Recca details her experience of her parents' divorce through a graphic medium.

Growing up middle class in Las Vegas, brown-haired Sophia had what looked like the perfect family. However, when she was 8, after loud and violent fights, her parents made an announcement of their imminent divorce. Sophia was heartbroken and candidly portrays her feelings both through her own words and illustrations by Kim and Leach (Click, 2018, etc.). Earlier praise from a teacher for her caring nature guides Sophia to patch her parents' fractured relationship, and the outcome is exceptional: Her mother and father seemingly put their issues behind them and focus on successful co-parenting. Although the portrayal is authentically voiced, Sophia's circumstance is unusual; not all young readers will be able to bridge the dissolution of their parents' relationship so easily, potentially giving them false hope. The full-color art has moments of idiosyncrasy, with Sophia drawn to look disturbingly mature in close-up shots. Other panels show Sophia literally bisected by a line; even younger readers will be able to glean meaning from this. There is a quiet but continuous undercurrent of Christian faith throughout. Like Sophia's family, nearly all persons depicted are white; the few scenes with any persons of color exist only in what appears to be a social services office.

Perhaps not for everyone but an honest exploration of a personal subject. (Graphic memoir. 7-12)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

As an educator I highly recommend this book. Children and teens are going through many issues and feel alone. This book helped me open up the discussion in my classroom, and allow students to relate to someone who overcame something that seems impossible to get through. The supplemental materials on the website were great for guiding me through whole group, and small group discussions, as well as provided activities and assessments. If you work with children and teens, I recommend adding this to your classroom resources!

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